Oosthuizen is star guest at StreetGolf final

THE Golf Foundation’s National StreetGolf Championship Final on Monday at Formby Hall is sure to be a great occasion for young people from all over the country who have qualified as new golfers, many recently experiencing a real course for the first time in this team event. So it’s fitting that a “wonderful ambassador” – 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen – has agreed to present the prizes for the winning teams.

Just days before the Open and almost a chip and a putt from Royal Birkdale, the Golf Foundation is hosting its own National StreetGolf Championship Final. Young fans normally cheering on Rooney or Rashford will be following Rory and Rose as new young players from community golf programmes across 11 Premier League and Championship football clubs tee it up in a unique golf event which draws on the ‘power of football’.

Teenagers from diverse backgrounds and traditionally non-golfing families and communities will be wearing their favourite teams’ football kits to compete for the coveted title of National StreetGolf Champions. This is all possible due to a partnership between the Golf Foundation, the Premier League and Sport England, introducing teenagers to golf and linking them to junior-friendly golf clubs. Following the tournament, all the young people will be transported to Royal Birkdale itself to savour the atmosphere of the first Open practice day and watch the best players in action.

Along with presenting the prizes, UPS Ambassador Louis Oosthuizen is attending the final with a special purpose of his own. Once again this year, Louis and fellow UPS Ambassador Lee Westwood are supporting the ‘Bags 4 Birdies’ campaign. For every birdie that Louis and Lee make in the four Majors, UPS will donate a set of golf clubs to a deserving youngster to help them make their way in the game (last year the pair secured 103 birdies). The Golf Foundation has been trusted to donate 12 golf sets on behalf of UPS and at the StreetGolf Final on Monday, Louis will present sets of clubs to two young people who show the best attitude and respect for the sport and their peers on the day.

Brendon Pyle, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Louis has been a great friend to the Golf Foundation over the last few years, famously even playing Tri-Golf with our youngsters the day before embarking on his Open Championship victory run at St Andrews in 2010.

“With Louis’s sense of fun, his continual encouragement of young players and the valuable work he is doing for Bags 4 Birdies, Louis is a wonderful ambassador for golf and is helping to further raise the profile of StreetGolf and getting young people started in this great sport.”

The finalists have taken part in local StreetGolf festivals and short course events at local golf clubs before qualifying for the Formby Hall event, which is an integral part of the Road to the Open project, run by the PGA, England Golf and the Golf Foundation and funded by The R&A, to provide opportunities for people to learn to play golf, and play golf more regularly.

The Golf Foundation is present at Royal Birkdale in The R&A Swing Zone (Spectator Village) all week welcoming families new to golf and supporting youngsters in a range of activities.

The Golf Foundation’s National StreetGolf Championship Final on Monday at Formby Hall is sure to be a great occasion for young people from all over the country who have qualified as new golfers, many recently experiencing a real course for the first time in this team event. So it’sfitting that a “wonderful ambassador” – 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen – has agreed to present the prizes for the winning teams.

Just days before the Open p and almost a chip and a putt from Royal Birkdale, the Golf Foundation is hosting its own National StreetGolf Championship Final. Young fans normally cheering on Rooney or Rashford will be following Rory and Rose as new young players from community golf programmes across 11 Premier League and Championship football clubs tee it up in a unique golf event which draws on the ‘power of football’.

Teenagers from diverse backgrounds and traditionally non-golfing families and communities will be wearing their favourite teams’ football kits to compete for the coveted title of National StreetGolf Champions. This is all possible due to a partnership between the Golf Foundation, the Premier League and Sport England, introducing teenagers to golf and linking them to junior-friendly golf clubs. Following the tournament, all the young people will be transported to Royal Birkdale itself to savour the atmosphere of the first Open practice day and watch the best players in action.

Along with presenting the prizes, UPS Ambassador Louis Oosthuizen is attending the final with a special purpose of his own. Once again this year, Louis and fellow UPS Ambassador Lee Westwood are supporting the ‘Bags 4 Birdies’ campaign. For every birdie that Louis and Lee make in the four Majors, UPS will donate a set of golf clubs to a deserving youngster to help them make their way in the game (last year the pair secured 103 birdies). The Golf Foundation has been trusted to donate 12 golf sets on behalf of UPS and at the StreetGolf Final on Monday, Louis will present sets of clubs to two young people who show the best attitude and respect for the sport and their peers on the day.

Brendon Pyle, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Louis has been a great friend to the Golf Foundation over the last few years, famously even playing Tri-Golf with our youngsters the day before embarking on his Open Championship victory run at St Andrews in 2010.

“With Louis’s sense of fun, his continual encouragement of young players and the valuable work he is doing for Bags 4 Birdies, Louis is a wonderful ambassador for golf and is helping to further raise the profile of StreetGolf and getting young people started in this great sport.”

The finalists have taken part in local StreetGolf festivals and short course events at local golf clubs before qualifying for the Formby Hall event, which is an integral part of the Road to the Open project, run by the PGA, England Golf and the Golf Foundation and funded by The R&A, to provide opportunities for people to learn to play golf, and play golf more regularly.